Improvement in intrenching knife-bayonets



S. O. LYFORD.. Intrenching Knife-Bayonet.

No. 212,244. Patented Feb. 11,1879.

N-PETERS. PHOTO'UTNOGRAPflER. WASHINGTON, D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFI-GE.

STEPHEN O. LYFORD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

I MP ROVEMENT IN INTRENCHING KNlFE-BAYONETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,244, dated February11, 1879; application filed January 11, 1879. i

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN C. LYFORD, of the eityof Washington,District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin lntrenching Knife-Bayonets; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing specification, when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is such a full,

clear, and exact description of the same as will enable others skilledin the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 represents, in elevation, the muzzle end of arifle and my improved intrenching knife-bayonet. Fig. 2 is a similarview, but illustrates the said implements adjusted together, a portionof each being in section to better show the means of fastening themtogether; and Fig. 3 is a similar View, but taken at right angles tothat of Fig. 2. r

This invention relates to that classof intrenching-tools for themilitary service which are designed to be used with one or both handsfor digging or scraping earth, and which can, in time of need, be usedon the rifle as bayonets or in the hands as knives. The objectionsheretofore existing to such tools or weapons are, that being fixed-thatis, temporarily fastened to the rifle in a firm position thereon, as inthe case of the well-known trowel-bayonet and similar devices-the toolmight be used as a spade, the rifle becoming its handle, therebyinjuring the rifle by bending its barrel or fouling its bore at themuzzle end with sand or dirt, and thereby causing bursting or swellingthe barrel at that point when the rifle was fired without cleaning, andof course thereby disabling the arm.

The object of my invention is to prevent the possibility of the soldierso using it, and in this manner removing objection to a tool adapted tobe used effectively as a means of intrenching or as a weapon of offenseor defense.

The invention consists in an improved structure of an intrenchingknife-bayonet which admits of its blade being mounted upon the barrel ofa rifle so as to turn freely around the same as its axis, whereby itsuse as a spade is prevented, while its effectiveness as a bayonet or asa hand implement is unimpaired.

To that end the blade A is constructed of sufficient width to adapt itfor use as a knife or as a digging instrument without destroying itsefficiency as a bayonet, and its backis provided with a toothed edge,for use as a saw, if such construction is desired, which blade is soconnected with its handle B (loosely or otherwise) that ,it shallproject mainly or wholly at one side of the axial line of said handle.The handle is hollow (constructed in any suitable manner) and is boredout, so as to freely fit upon the barrel of the rifle, and thus enablethe blade and handle to readily turn upon the barrel as its axis when itis mounted thereon for use as a bayonet.

Many means for securin g it upon the barrel, which will not obstruct itsfree movement,

may be devised. One well adapted for the purpose is shown in thedrawings, the same consisting in providing the handle B with a slot, 1,cut in its interior wall in a plane at right angles to its axis, whichis intercepted by a longitudinal slot, 2, running from the lower end ofthe handle. When the implement is placed upon the rifle its slot 2 ispassed over a stud, 3, projecting from the side of the rifle-barrel, andnear its muzzle end, which stud 3 finds its seat in the slot 1, when,upon rotating the implement, it will be securely held in position, andyet be capable of rotating freely throughout the whole circle of threehundred and sixty degrees upon the barrel as its axis; but it may beotherwise constructedthat is to say, the blade maybe made so as torevolve around the handle as its axis, the axis of the barrel, ofcourse, being coincident with that of the rifle, and by means of anysimple device, the handle and blade being locked fast when not inposition upon the barrel but when mounted upon the barrel always free torotate.

Such a structure, while practicable, is not deemed to be the mostdesirable one.

When this intrenchin g knife-bayonet is con structed and mounted uponthe rifle-barrel, as has been described, and the rifle is held in anyposition near the horizontal necessary for digging purposes, the-actionof the force of 2 mama gravity will cause the heavier side of its bladeA to carry the same below the axis of the barrel, from which it willdepend in a plane approximating a vertical line. The soldier will thusbe unable to use it as a spade, for the reason that in the attempt to souse it the blade A will assume the position of a vertical plane, orapproximately so, as it enters the earth, in whatever position relativeto itself the rifle is held as its handle. If, however, by any means theblade be stuck into the earth in a position to act as a spade with therifle as a handle, it will, upon being lifted, turn upon its axis andcome out of the earth with its plane vertical.

The best embodiment of the invention now known is that illustrated,wherein the axis of the handle 13, while lying in the plane of the bladeA, is so far removed from the rear edge of the same as to allow the freedischarge of the rifle when the implement is attached to the barrel; butthe invention may be carried into practical ctt'ect by any constructionwhich provides for the free rotation of the blade around the barrel orits handle as its axis, and wherein the blade is so formed that itsweight will, by the force of gravity, keep said blade in a verticalplane, or nearly so, in whatever position the rifle is held, with itsaxis approximating to the horizontal, the structure, however, being suchas not to obstruct the free discharge of the gun.

An implement constructed according to this invention cannot be used as aspade with the rifle as its handle, and yet its effectiveness as abayonet for thrusting or as an intrenchingtool is not impaired.

What is claimed is 1. An intrenchin g knife-bayonet constructedsubstantially as described, so that when it is mounted upon the barrelof a rifle its blade may freely turn, so as to gravitate and rest in avertical plane, or nearly so, when the rifle is moved into a positionapproximating the horizontal.

2. An intrenchin g knife-bayonet consisting of a suitable blade, as A,and a hollow handle, as B, the latter being provided with the slots 1 2,adapted to pass over a stud, 3, projecting from the barrel,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN O. LYFORD.

Vitnesses:

WM. A. DECAINDRY, A. W. PENTLAND.

